Welsh festive derbies to kick off Celtic Challenge

The Celtic Challenge has helped launch the international careers of players like Wales hooker Molly Reardon

Back-to-back Welsh derbies will kick off the Celtic Challenge tournament for 2024-2025.

Gwalia Lightning will host Brython Thunder at Ystrad Mynach on Saturday, 21 December (14:30 GMT)

The two sides will meet again a week later in the reverse fixture at Parc y Scarlets on Saturday, 28 December (14:30).

The cross-border competition features six sides with Wolfhounds and Clovers representing Ireland and Edinburgh and Glasgow the two Scottish teams.

The format has been expanded this year with teams playing each other home and away.

The Welsh squads will be announced in December and will once again include a host of internationals as well as emerging talent.

Wales' Alex Callender, Sioned Harries, Natalia John, Meg Webb and Nel Metcalfe all played in last season’s tournament, while Gwennan Hopkins, Catherine Richards, Sian Jones and Molly Reardon used it as a platform to gain international honours in this year's Six Nations and WXV2.

Gwalia Lightning coach Catrina Nicholas-Mclaughlin said: "To have a Welsh derby to kick off the new Celtic Challenge campaign will focus the minds of both sets of players and coaches on the first weekend.

“Both teams have one win each from last season and there is always an extra edge when you play against another Welsh team."

Brython Thunder coach Ashley Beck said: "We all know each other, and these are the games that you always look for when the fixtures are announced.

“Gwalia caught us cold in the first fixture last season, but we were deserved winners in the return game at Parc y Scarlets in the final game of the campaign.”

You can find the full Celtic Challenge fixtures here.